Madhya Pradesh: PhonePe Warns Congress Of Legal Action Over Posters Featuring CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan

A controversy has erupted over the use of digital payments company PhonePe's logo on posters targeting Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The posters, put up by the Congress party in the capital city of Bhopal, accused Chouhan of engaging in corrupt practices by accepting commissions in exchange for getting work done

Outlook Web Desk

Updated on: 29 June 2023 7:46 am

Posters accusing Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of corruption

After posters of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan were plastered across the capital city Bhopal by the Congress, accusing him of getting work done in exchange for money, digital payments company PhonePe objected to the use of its logo in the posters.

The posters with a QR code with Chouhan’s face read: “50% laao, PhonePe kaam karao (pay 50% commission to get your work done)”.

कटनी रेलवे स्टेशन पर शिवराज का भ्रष्टाचार

50% लाओ, फ़ोन पे काम कराओ

मध्यप्रदेश की जनता जानती है,
50% कमीशनखोरों को पहचानती है। pic.twitter.com/N3vXwqtY4A
— MP Congress (@INCMP) June 26, 2023

PhonePe on Monday objected to the posters on Twitter, saying that its logo should be removed from the posters and that it "objected to the unauthorized use of its brand logo by any third party, whether political or non-political."

"The PhonePe logo is a registered trademark of our company and any unauthorized use of PhonePe’s intellectual property rights will invite legal action. We humbly request @INCMP to remove the posters and banners featuring our brand logo and colour," the company said in a tweet.

PhonePe objects to the unauthorized usage of its brand logo, by any third party, be it political or non-political. We are not associated with any political campaign or party.
— PhonePe (@PhonePe) June 26, 2023

Poster campaign in Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister and BJP leader Narottam Mishra reacted to the posters put up by the Congress, claiming that the Congress was engaging in "dirty politics" and there was nothing more to say after PhonePe's tweet on the posters.

"The dirty politics of Congress has come to the fore. Nothing to say after the 'Phonepe' tweet," he said.

#WATCH | The dirty politics of Congress has come to the fore. Nothing to say after the 'Phonepe' tweet. The public knows that you are blaming others to hide your corruption. FIR has been registered in Burhanpur, Chhindwara and will take action against it: Madhya Pradesh Home… https://t.co/ILXUFhjpEL pic.twitter.com/Eo6blo7C1G
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) June 29, 2023

The Congress had earlier said that its posters on Shivraj Singh Chouhan were a retaliation to the posters on Kamal Nath which stated -- "Wanted Commission Nath".

A similar poster war had also erupted in Karnataka ahead of the assembly elections in the state. Posters with pictures of then Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai and the "40 per cent sarkara" and "PayCM" slogans surfaced across the state.